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03 February 1998

COHEN: IRAQ RISKS SERIOUS MILITARY BLOW OVER INSPECTIONS

(Senate considers resolution of support for administration) (470)
By Jacquelyn S. Porth
USIA Security Affairs Writer
Washington -- What to do about the ongoing diplomatic impasse with
Iraq continued to occupy the attention of members of Congress as they
peppered Secretary of Defense Cohen with questions on the subject
February 3.
In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing ostensibly devoted to the
Fiscal Year 1999 defense budget, Cohen warned that should diplomacy
with Iraq fail, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will be dealt "a
serious blow."
Senator Max Cleland (Democrat-Georgia) expressed the hope that, should
military action be necessary, it would "be lethal" so that United
States would not have to repeat bombing raids against Iraq.
"If it should come to military action," Cohen said, "the kind of
campaign that would be undertaken would be significant. It would be
far more than what has been experienced in the past, certainly since
the Persian Gulf war."
At the same time, the secretary said, "we should not raise
unreasonable expectations about what can be achieved by air power
alone" in a possible future military operation.
The goal of military action against Iraq, according to Cohen, would be
to reduce or curtail Iraq's ability to manufacture, store or
reconstitute weapons of mass destruction and limit its ability to
threaten its neighbors.
Asked by Senator Carl Levin (Democrat-Michigan) if a military
operation could be conducted without ground forces, the secretary
indicated he thought it could. He also noted that a third U.S.
aircraft carrier would soon arrive in the region.
Would additional force be brought to bear if Saddam Hussein refused to
comply after the contemplated air operation, Levin asked? "It's
possible," the secretary replied.
Senator John Warner (Republic-Virgina) asked what has changed since
the Gulf war that would affect plansfor an air operation. Cohen noted
that Iraq no longer has as large a military force as it once did, with
the military now contained in "a very small box" by no-fly zones in
southern and northern Iraq.
If U.S. military action is warranted, Cohen told committee members, he
is satisfied that the operation will be supported by American allies.
Senator Olympia Snowe (Republican-Maine) emphasized that the problem
of Saddam Hussein is one for the entire world community and expressed
frustration that so few allies had stepped forward in support.
Cohen noted that the United Kingdom has expressed "strong support."
The Senate is considering a resolution expressing support for
President Clinton should military force against Iraq be needed.
President Clinton, the secretary said, has indicated that
congressional support would be most helpful, although not necessarily
required under the War Powers Act.
Cohen planned to brief members of Congress privately on the situation
with Iraq later February 3.